Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-05

Once the Queen Of the Ute Indians. Now
q Hunted SQuaW Of COlOrOW's Band.

Once the Queen Of the Ute Indians. Now
a Hunted SquaW Of COlOrOW's Band.
From the Denver Republican.
Among the squaws accompanying Colorow In
his per1patetic Journeytngs about the White
River country is Chipeta, the wife OF the amented
Ouray, the late head chief Of the Ute Nation. The
career OF this woman is beyond anything yet writ
ten; even Fen1nOre Cooper, in his description OF
the romance OF aboriginal life, falls far short OF
anything like 1t In his character sketches. Follow
Ing Ourays election to the chieftainship, the first
official act he was called upon to consider was the
ACCESSIBILITY OF a removal OF his tribe from the
mountains OF Colorado to Utah. and in connection
Win proposed treaty between the United states
and the Ute Nation he was summoned to wash
ington. On his trip he was accompanied by his
WIFE, Both he and Chipeta had In measure
adopted the dress OF civilized life. They owned
their own ranch, their herds fed upon their own
pastures, and in essentials lived as white people
and enjoyed the comforts Of civilized life. These
lngton, and with all the romance OF their wild
mountain lie clinging about them, added TO tue
heritage OF an ancient and warlike lineage, they
Were received with open arms by the hign social
circles OF the capital city. Everywhere they were
feted and the dOOrs OF the mansions in the west
End swung inward at their approach.
Ch1peta was idOlized. She was clothed in silks;
her ralment was the fancy OF the best Eastern
dressmakers, and the tawdry finery associated
with life OF Savagery was conspicuous by its alb
Sence. The illustrated journals took the cue, and
the wife OF Ouray became libeled throughout the
lists. She was the rage for the season she was in
washington, and the epiStOlary correspondence
from attaches OF the Engish legation to the court
Journals at London referred TO her as "Mountain
PrlhceSS,' and bespoke for her u hearty reception
from the peerage or England should she visit that
country, which she at That time actually contem-
plated. AS souvenirs OF her visit to Washington
Chlptta carried away with her quantities OF sill
yer plate, portion OF which was presented to her
ment.
Shortly after his visit to Washington and the
consunnation or the treaty Ouray died He was
sincerely mOurned by his people, and as an indca-
ZION OF their grief, and In conformity with long
established custom, the horses OF the dead man
" we iead up TO the grave and one by one shot
All that was valuable in earthly existence was to
accompany him to the happy hunting ground OF
MS aaGe1an but Chipeta; ana She TOO would
ilved couple OF centuries ago. AS 1t was, the Gus
tom OF her tribe, 10y the greatness Of her exalted
oWh0od Any deviation from this uhWritten law
would draw down upon her head the maledictions
OF OF, the entire nation and she would become an
Outctst, pariah among her people.
But Chipeta had Will OF her own. She had
tasted or the privileges which her Caucasian Sis
terhood enjoyed, and when the opportunity oc-
CURED TO marry handsome buck she did so, not
stopping TO consider the great fan thereby In the
social scale. AS might nave been expected, the
head men OF tine Nation, with unanimlty and de-
cision, condemned both her anu Eer husband 10
ostracisnL They had both violated sacred law
OF Social government and they must suffer. With
her new alliance she turned Ier back upon
civilized lie In every form. Her silks and SatinS
were tlScarGeu, and even her plate was melted
DOWN TO make keWgaWS Tor her husbands friends.
Her stock was taken from her ana reverse followed
reverse till she was absolutely forced beyond the
line OIL tribal kinsh1p, and she with her husband
became Wanderer.
This, doubtless was hurried by the unfortunate
mistake which she had maie in locating ranch
On the new reservation. IL was an excellent site.
There was plenty OF water, and buffalo, mesqu!t,
and srainma grasses gave nouriahlnent TO the
stock. when the lineS were made dividing Utah
from Colorado IL was found that Chipetas ranch
Was on the wrong side or The linc aud not in the
reservation. 1t became, therefore, legitimate
piuluer for the settlers, Who lost no time In
dividing the spoil.
Like The renegade Of her tribe, Chipeta in her
WauderinES tended to The White River country.
There at least she would be welcomed and some
respect paid TO her fallen greatness. She ana her
husband Joined CUiOrOw, and are now with him
enVIrOneu 10y Tie military IorceS which the gov
eTnor has dispatched for the protection OF the
settlers OF Garfield county.
Topographic advlceS say that some apprehension
is felt Ior ChlpelaS safety. She IN one or the
tents which was fired 10y Sheriff kendalIS party
on their first visit TO the Indian camp and She
not Oeen seen since II is not at all likely that sue
has been harmeu she has been compelled TO prac-
tcally take tU The bushes.
Chlpeia IS growing Old. She must be in the
neighDornOOd OF fifty. ColOrow Was once her
enemy, as lie was the enemy OF the peoce- loving
she sought straits i'll LIE where She could ind
friends 1t Is not believed that she entertains
Warlike spirit toward the whites but, being with
Colorow, she Is III bad company. once the queen
vi the nation, she Is now leading the life Of
mon SQUaW.